‘Safety First’ Ordinance For Funding Sidewalks Discussed At Neighborhood Board Meeting

Should there be a “safety first” ordinance for funding sidewalks on our island? That’s the question Kaneohe Neighborhood Board member Mahealani Cypher asked at our January meeting.

Speakers at the meeting said current ordinances treat sidewalks as property improvements that should be approved by a majority of the affected property owners and partially funded by all of them. That can make funding construction difficult even where there is a clear safety risk to residents who walk or use wheelchairs.

Mahealani Cypher

Ms. Cypher said that the walkway along Waikalua Road hasn’t been improved since she used it to get to school as a child 40 years ago. She said that the safety of residents is clearly affected by the condition of the walkway and that the city needs a better way to make it safe.

The issue came up when residents on Waikalua Road expressed concern about the poor condition of the street and the paved walkway next to it. The street is riddled with potholes and the walkway is crumbling and narrow.

The street had been scheduled for resurfacing in November, but the work has not begun. A representative of the Mayor’s Office, Lori Kahikina, told the meeting that she will look into the plans for repaving but that there are no plans for sidewalk improvements.

Ms. Kahikina, the city’s Director of Environmental Services, said that the city ordinance will need to change before the city can fund sidewalks for safety reasons. Francisco Figueiredo, a representative of City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, noted that adding sidewalks can take away parking spaces, which are important for many residents.

Neighborhood Board Chairman Mo Radke encouraged residents to fill out a complaint form, which he would forward to the city for investigation.

For more information: Click here and scroll to Section 18 to review the city sidewalk ordinance. Click here to explore the city’s road repaving map and project list.

We Welcome Your Comments, In Person And Online

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.  

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Homelessness, Vacation Rentals, Charter Changes Topics At Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Meeting

Our September 15 meeting was busy. Here’s a quick look at some important developments. To see our earlier reports from the meeting, click here and here.

Windward Homelessness: City Councilman Ikaika Anderson talked with us about options that are being considered for housing Oahu’s homeless. He said the city sees promise in a “housing first” approach, in which homeless people are provided with housing before they begin receiving medical, psychiatric, legal and other services. Many current programs for the homeless require that they receive treatment before they are housed.

One housing first option is opening a multi-unit shelter to provide both housing and services. Councilman Anderson asked the Neighborhood Board what it would think of the city locating a multi-unit shelter for the homeless in Kaneohe. Board member Deborah Collins asked the councilman to provide a map of city-owned properties that might be used for the project.

Councilman Anderson also said he would consider an approach in which the city would provide financial support to landlords to open individual properties for homeless clients. He said this might enable Windward residents to help homeless people who are family members or friends.

Unpermitted Vacation Rentals: Mayors’ representative Lori Kahikina said that funds are running short for the city to investigate vacation rentals to determine if they meet city requirements. She urged residents to provide detailed information about possible violations to help inspectors be more efficient. An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 unpermitted vacation rentals operate on Oahu.

City Charter Amendments: We voted 12-0 on a resolution asking the City Charter Commission to inform the public about each of the 20 Charter amendments that it has put on the November election ballot. The vote came after we voted to add the topic to our agenda. The commission has the language of each measure and a description on its website at http://honoluluchartercommission.org/.

NEW BANNERS: Board Chairman Mo Radke and Board Member Warren Ditch display one of two new banners promoting our monthly meetings. Watch for the banners at Benjamin Parker Elementary School and the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Keaahala Road. 

Comments Welcome: Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly. Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.